Real Estate Salesperson and Brokers License by Exam

Salesperson by Exam

All applicants must be 18 years of age at the time the application is submitted. There are no residency or citizenship requirements.

All applicants are subject to a national criminal history check through the FBI. This process alone can take four weeks, quite possibly more, and can be started at any time. Criminal history background checks are valid for 210 calendar days.

The following education needs to be completed at the time of application, in any order:

• Complete a 60-hour pre-license course (live instruction or online learning hours) of real estate principles and practices from an approved provider. 
• Complete the following three courses from an approved provider.
  • 12-hours Buying Practices (live instruction only)
  • 12-hours Listing Practices (live instruction only)
  • 12-hours Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices (live instruction only)

All of the courses must have been taken less than one year before the time the commission receives your completed application. 

All applicants must successfully pass the state and national portions of the salesperson licensing examination. To be eligible for the exam applicants must have already completed the 60-hour pre-license course. The course must be less than a year old at the time applicants take and pass the salesperson licensing examination and also less than one year old at the time the commission receives a completed application. Also, both portions of the exam must also be valid at the time an applicant submits their application electronically to the IREC. Exams are valid until the last working day of the sixth month following the exam pass date. Example: A test passed on any day in June of 2020 is valid until Dec. 31, 2020.

Obtain errors and omissions insurance.

All applications will need to be submitted electronically through an applicant's "My Iowa PLB" account.

Exams:

The exams are given by appointment only. You must contact Psychological Services, Inc. (PSI) by calling 855.898.0712 or register for the examination on their website to schedule a time and place to take the exam. Exam fees for all exams are $95. PSI has testing sites in West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Council Bluffs.  Please review the PSI Bulletin for additional information.

Broker by Exam

You must have 24 months of active salesperson experience before you can apply for a broker license.

Complete 60 hours of broker pre-license education within the preceding 24 months of passing the examinations.

Broker Pre-License Requirements Effective Jan. 1, 2020

• Contract Law and Contract Writing - 6 hours
• Iowa Real Estate Trust Accounts - 6 hours
• Principles of Appraising and Market Analysis - 6 hours
• Real Estate Law and Agency Law - 6 hours
• Real Estate Finance - 6 hours
• Federal and State Laws Affecting Iowa Practice - 6 hours
• Real Estate Office Organization, Administration & Human Resources - 12 hours
• Real Estate Technology and Data Security - 6 hours
• Ethics and Safety Issues for Brokers - 6 hours

Successfully pass the state and national portions of the examination. To be eligible for the exam you must have already completed the 60 hours of education mentioned above. Both portions of the exam must be valid at the time the commission's office receives your application. Exams are valid until the last working day of the sixth month following the exam pass date. Example: A test passed on any day in June 2020 is valid until Dec. 31, 2020. 

Undergo a criminal history and background investigation. This process alone can take four weeks, quite possibly more, and can be started at any time.  Criminal history backgrounds are valid for 210 calendar days.

Obtain errors and omissions insurance.